"Once a pond a time…"

Main menu

Heart-shaped Box ~ Book Review

I picked this book off of the library shelf because I liked the cover. Yes, that is what got me to look it over. With all the books to choose from it can be THAT simple.

Well, I’m always struggling to decide what makes me like a book. Sometimes, it’s just because they hold my interest and have an ending that doesn’t disappoint me.

This book is a modern ghost story. I love a good ghost story. This one had me turning pages at a furious rate. There was frequent bad language and a few sexual references that make this not for youngsters but it fit into the story of an aging rock star with a seedy past.

I found the dilemma that the characters faced believable enough to follow and enjoy. Their internal voices and instincts were not silly like those who always chase “bumps” in the night. The ghosts were creative and cool too.

This book won’t go down as a classic but it kept me happily entertained and wanting more. There are some lessons, the famed “Be careful what you wish for.” and the destructive power of money and fame along with the indiscretions of youth literally coming back to haunt the protagonist. I’ve put a few Stephen King novels down due to sexual content that seemed misplaced and for shock value only. In my opinion, those brief references in this story are not like that. I say this only as a warning to those who find such material impossible to get past in any story.

I’d recommend this to anyone who enjoys a scary thriller. Anyone who loves Stephen King might find this one right up their alley.